FACT BRIEF

Do suicide prevention organizations reduce death rates?

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

By Lisa Freedland

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YES

While suicide prevention programs have been effective in reducing death rates, this impact has varied depending on one's age and sex.

A 2019 study analyzing the effectiveness of such programs across four comparable countries over the past 30 years found declines in suicide rates in men in particular, likely due to reduced access to firearms. Programs had the strongest deterrent effects on men aged 25 to 44 and 45 to 64. The study also found a significant deterrent effect in females aged 45 to 64 and older than 65.

A 2016 survey of 1797 studies related to suicide prevention similarly found that programs help reduce suicide rates. Effective strategies include reducing access to lethal means, establishing suicide prevention hotlines, providing quality mental health counseling, raising awareness in schools and administrating psychiatric medicine.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

BMC Psychiatry Are national suicide prevention programs effective? A comparison of 4 verum and 4 control countries over 30 years

The Lancet Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review

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